Gyratory crusher concave adjustment



United States Patent O GYRATORY CRUSHIER CONCAVE ADJUSTMENT Harvey H. Rumpel, Sullivan, Wis., assignor to Smith Eugineering Works, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 24, 1957, Serial No. 667,377

' s claims. (ci. 241-215) This invention relates generally to improvements pertaining to gyratory Crushers, and it relates more specifically to4 improvements in the construction and operation of mechanism for facilitating adjustment of the concave crushing member with respect to the crushing head member of a gyratory crusher so as to vary the crusher discharge opening and to insure production of uniform final product for any relative adjustment of these members.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide improved gyratory crusher concave adjusting mechanism which can be readily manipulated to effect adjustment of the crushing concave relative to the crusher head, and which will eifectively maintain these `parts in various relatively adjusted positions during normal"operation of the crusher after a desired adjustment has been eifected.

When utilizing gyratory Crushers to reduce materials to relatively fine size, it is important to be able to positively maintain the concave `and the head in relatively adjusted condition during normal operation of the crusher in order to prevent variation in the size of the iinal product. While many different schemes for effectingsuch adjustment by providing the crushing concave with screw threads rotatably cooperable with threads' on the concave support, have heretofore been vproposed and used commercially with some degree of success, all have proven objectionable because they were unable to obviate so-called fretting corrosion or freezing of the adjusting threads to each other and thus making it extremely difiicult to rotate the concave for adjustment purposes without marring the coacting threads or utilizing excessive force. This corrosion is due primarily to oxidation of the threaded surfaces and since the coacting threads are frequently of large diameter,` the power required to effect adjustment of the concave is enormous.

It'y is therefore a more specific important object of this invention to provide improved instrumentalities for-eifecting accurate adjustment of a gyratory crusher concave relative to a cooperating crushing head, and for maintaining the parts in relatively adjusted condition,-'withjminimum effort and without marring the adjusting' surfaces.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved gyratory crusher screw thread adjustment fortheconcave, whereby the threads are well protected'against fretting corrosion and freezing and in which the concave may be rotated for accurate adjustment in an expeditious manner.

'A further important object of my invention is to provide improved adjusting and sealing mechanism for the lconcave of a gyratory crusher, which is simple but effective forenabling rapid and precise adjustments and for Alocking the parts in adjusted condition without exposing the adjusting surfaces to grid and dust.

Stillanother important object of the present invention. is to provide a reliable and durable gyratory 2,881,981 Patented Apr. 14, 1959 ice crusher concave adjusting assemblage embodying a single sturdy ring nut rotatable with the concave relative to its support and having external screw threads cooperable with internal support threads, and a series of clamping elements coacting with the ring nut and concave to clamp the cooperating threads together.

These and other more specic objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description from which it will be apparent that the gist of the improvement is the provision of a sealed gyratory crusher bowl or concave adjustment comprising a ring nut rotatable with the concave relative to its support and having screw threads cooperable with threads on the support for effecting adjustment of the concave with respect to the crusher head, and means coacting with the ring nut to force the cooperating threads into interlocking engagement with each other.

A clear conception of the features constituting my present improvement, and of the construction and operation of a typical concave adjustment embdoying the invention as applied to a gyratory crusher, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference' characters designate the same or similar elements inv the several views.

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a typical commercial gyratory crusher of the type having a head and an annular concave cooperating to form a crushing chamber, and wherein the concave is adjustable relative to the head with the aid of one type of the present improved mechanism to vary the size of the crusher discharge;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary similar section through the improved concave adjusting device; and

Fig. 3 is a similarly enlarged fragmentary and similar section, taken through a modified type of the improved concave adjusting mechanism.

While the invention has been shown and described as having been applied to a specific type of gyratory crusher especially adapted to produce relatively ne but uniform product, it is not intended to confine the use of the improved adjusting mechanism to such crushers; and it is also contemplated that speciiic descriptive terms employed herein be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

Referring especially to Figs. l and 2 of the drawing,

4the low head high speed gyratory crusher illustrated stationary outer crushing member or annular concave 13v surrounding the head 11 and cooperating therewith to provide a downwardly and outwardly ilaring crushing chamber 14, the concave 13 being provided with external crushing pressure resisting screw threads 15; and annular concave support 16 normally resting upon a circular ridge 17 at the top of the frame wall 7 and having internal screw threads 18 coacting with the concave threads 15; a hopper 19 carried indirectly by the concave 13 for conducting material to be crushed into the top of the chamber 14; and a power shaft 20 for imparting rotation to the eccentric 8 and resultant gyration to the head 11 through intermeshing bevel gears 21, 22.

The annular space 24 between the hub 6 and wall 7 of the frame 5 provides a discharge passage for crushed product delivered from the chamber 14, and the eccentric .8 is supported from the hub 6 through an anti-friction bearing 25 coacting with the bottom of the flange 10, while the head 11 rests upon a similar bearing 26 coacting with the top of this ange. The crushing chamber 14 is bounded by a protective mantle 27 carried by the head 11, and by a similarly protective liner 28 secured to the concave 13; and the concave support 16 is normally pressed into engagement with the frame ridge 17 by an annular series of compression springs 29 and tension bolts 30 coacting at their lower ends with a collar 31 surrounding the wall 7, and at their upper ends with the frame ridge 17 and concave support 16 respectively. The driving shaft 20 is journalled in bearings 32 carried by the main frame and has a propelling pulley 33 secured to its outer end, and all of the foregoing Crusher structure is of relatively well known construction and operation.

In order to enable the operators of such gyratory Crushers to produce finely crushed materials of various uniform sizes, it is necessary to relatively adjust the head 11 and concave 13 so as to correspondingly vary the size of the annular discharge opening at the lower portion of the crushing chamber 14. In the Crusher shown herein, such variation in size of the discharge opening is effected by rotating the concave 13 relative to its support 16, thereby causing the coacting screw threads 15, 18 of these parts to move the concave 13 up or down depending upon the direction of rotation of the concave. When such adjustment in order to vary the size of the nal product is made only at long intervals, these threads 15, 18 are subject to corrosion and resultant freezing or binding thus making it diicult to effect rotation of the relatively heavy and massive concave 13; and after an adjustment has been completed it is also necessary to eifectively maintain the desired setting during normal operation of the Crusher so as to insure the production of uniform nal product.

In accordance with the present invention, a one-piece or unitary sturdy ring nut 35 having an inverted U-shaped cross section and which is provided with external load carrying screw threads 36 also coacting with the internal threads 18 of the concave support 16, is mounted above the concave 13 and provides a direct support for the material confining inlet hopper 19, see Figs. l and 2. The ring nut 35 is also provided with one or more lugs 37 for the reception of a pull chain or cable, and is drivingly connected to the concave 13 by means of an annular series of upright bolts 38 so that rotation of the nut 35 will be imparted to the concave 13. Each of the bolts 38 has a lower head which coacts with the integral ange of the concave 13 on which the threads 15 are formed, and a specially formed cap nut 39 coacts with the screw threads at the upper end of each bolt 38 and is normally held out of engagement with the top of the ring nut 35 by a transverse wedge 40 extending through the nut 39. Each wedge 40 projects outwardly beyond the adjacent nut 39 and coacts with a pair of ribs 41 formed on the ring nut 35, and by driving these wedges 40 the corresponding bolts 38 are raised thus lifting the concave 13 slightly and thereby clamping the screw threads 15, 36 against the screw threads 18. When the wedges 40 are released, the threads of the concave 13 are also released from the threads 18 thus permitting free rotation of the concave 13 relative to its support 16.

The outer depending annular iange 42 of the ring nut 35 is provided with a series of spaced upright slots 43 with which a locking member 44 carried by one of the bolts 3) is adapted to coact as shown at the left of Fig. 1, during normal operation of the crusher in order to positively prevent possible rotation of the ring nut 35 and concave 13 relative to the concave support 16; but when this locking member 44 has been withdrawn from an adjacent slot 43 and the wedges 40 have been released, then the concave 13 may be rotated relative to the support 16 with the aid of a pull chain or cable applied to one of the lugs 37. In order to prevent possible ingress of grit and dust to the screw threads 15, 18, 36 and lgs.

to effectively enclose the same, a sealing ring 45 may be interposed between the adjacent cylindrical lower portions of the concave 13 and its support 16, a second such ring 46 should be applied between the ring nut flange 42 and the adjacent `outer cylindrical surface of the support 16, a third seal ring 47 should be installed between an upstanding annular ridge of the concave 13 and a cylindrical surface formed on a hook ange 48 disposed within the ring nut 35, and a sealing ring 49 should also be provided between each cap nut 39 and the ring nut 35.

When the various parts of the improved gyratory crusher have been constructed and assembled as shown in the drawing, the machine is in condition for the production of crushed material of a uniform size as determined by proper adjustment 4of the concave 13 relative to the head 11. The pulley 33 may then be rotated to gyrate the head 11 at relatively high speed relative to the concave 13 through the shaft 2i), gears 21, 22 and eccentric 8, whereupon the hopper 19 may be supplied with an abundance of raw material which is to be crushed. The material thus supplied ows downwardly and outwardly through the annular crushing chamber 14 and is gradually crushed between the head mantle 27 and the concave liner 28 to the predetermined size and is eventually delivered through the annular discharge opening at the lower end of the chamber 14 and drops by gravity through the space 24. During this normal crushing operation the concave 13 will remain stationary and the head 11 will be free to rotate about the axis of the shaft 12 and eccentric bore 9 as well as being gyrated; but if relatively hard and uncrushable material is admitted to the chamber 14, then the springs 29 and bolts 30 will function to allow the concave 13 and its support 16 to tilt or to move bodily away from the frame ridge 17 until the abnormal material has passed through the chamber 14.

While the Crusher is thus operating normally, the locking member 44 will positively prevent rotation of the ring nut 35 and concave 13 relative to the support 16 and will thereby insures the production of crushed material of uniform size, but if the predetermined size of the nal product is to be varied this may be quickly accomplished with the aid of the improved adjusting mechanism as follows. The several wedges 40 should lrst be withdrawn to release the concave threads 15 from gripping contact with the adjacent threads 18 of the concave support 16, after which the locking member 44 should be released from the adjacent slot 43 in the ring nut 35, whereupon this nut together with the concave 13 may be rotated in either direction relative to the support 16 with the aid of a pull cable or chain applied to one of the lugs 37 until the desired adjustment has been effected.` Thel adjusting mechanism should thereafter be restored to the condition shown in Fig. l whereupon the crusher will again be ready for normal operation. It is also noteworthy that during such normal operation and even while adjustment of the product size is being eifected, the sealing rings 45, 46, 47 and 49 will function to protect the screw threads 15, 18 and 36 against entry of foreign matter such as grit or dust.

The construction of the modified ring nut 35' shown in Fig. 3 is quite similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2, but the modified assemblage has been somewhat simplified by the substitution of ordinary thread clamping nuts 39 for the screw threads 15, in place of the previously described wedges 40. With the modified assemblage when the several nuts 39' are screwed downwardly against the top of the ring nut 35 the bolts 38 will lift the concave threads 15 of the concave 13 slightly and will thereby clamp these threads into binding engagement with the threads 18 of the concave support 16. In both embodiments itis necessary to have the adjacent externally threaded flanges of the ring nut and concave, spaced apart at all times so that they may be displaced. relative to each other. While the action of the4 moded structure may not be as effective as that of the clamping device. shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it willy nevertheless clamp the concave to its support, and the remaining operation of the modied assemblage is the same as that previously described with respect to Figs. 1 and 2.

From the foregoing detailed description of the construction and operation of the improved gyratory crusher, it should be apparent that the present invention in fact provides a concave adjusting mechanism which greatly facilitates accurate pre-adjustment of the crushing members so as to produce uniform crushed products of the desired size, while also positively maintaining the parts in adjusted condition during normal operation of the machine. The adjustments can be quickly effected with minimum loss of time and Without the aid of special tools, and the various parts of the mechanism are of durable construction while the adjusting screw threads are also well protected against corrosion and foreign matter by the various sealing rings provided. The use of a onepiece or unitary adjusting nut which not only releases the binding eiect on the screw threads but also serves as a means for actuating the adjusting device and for locking the assemblage in adjusted condition, lsimplifies the construction and also results in a strong structure; and the invention is obviously applicable to various types of gyratory Crushers.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction and operation of the gyratory crusher specifically shown and described herein, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In a gyratory crusher having a head and a concave cooperating to form a crushing chamber and wherein the head and concave are relatively adjustable to vary the crusher discharge opening, a frame, an annular concave support resting on ysaid frame and having screw threads coacting with threads on the concave, a ring nut rotatable with said concave relative to said support and also having threads coacting with said support threads, and a series of bolts coacting with said ring nut and concave and being operable to lift the concave and to thereby draw said concave threads out of binding engagement with said support threads so as to permit free rotation of the concave.

2. In a gyratory crusher having a head and a concave cooperating to form a crushing chamber and wherein the head and concave are relatively adjustable to vary the crusher discharge opening, a frame, an annular concave support resting on said frame and having internal screw threads coacting with external threads on the concave, a ring nut rotatable with said concave relative to said support and also having external threads coating with said internal support threads, and a series of spaced bolts coacting with said ring nut and concave and being operable to clamp said external concave threads against said internal support threads so as to positively prevent rotation of the concave.

3. In a gyratory crusher having a head and a concave cooperating to form a crushing chamber and wherein the head and concave are relatively adjustable to vary the crusher discharge opening, a frame, an annular concave support resting on said frame and having internal screw threads coacting with external threads on the concave, a unitary ring nut rotatable with said concave relative to said support and also having external threads coacting with said support threads, and a series of bolts coacting with said ring nut and being operable to lift said concave and to release said external concave threads from said support threads so as to permit free rotation of the concave for adjustment relative to said support.

4. In a gyratory crusher having a head and a concave cooperating to form a crushing chamber and wherein the head and concave are relatively adjustable to vary the crusher discharge opening, a frame, an annular concave support resting on said frame and having internal screw threads coacting with external threads on the concave, a ring nut rotatable with said concave relative to said support and also having external threads coacting with said internal support threads, and a series of bolts carried by said ring nut and being operable to release said external concave threads from clamping coaction with said internal support threads so as to permit free relative rotation of the concave and support.

5. In a gyratory crusher having a head and a concave cooperating to form a crushing chamber and wherein the head and concave are relatively adjustable to vary the crusher discharge opening, a frame, an annular concave support resting on said frame and having screw threads coacting with threads on the concave, a unitary ring nut having inverted U-shaped transverse cross-section and being rotatable with said concave relative to said support and also having threads coacting with said support threads, means coacting with said ring nut and concave and being operable to clamp said concave threads against said support threads so as to prevent relative rotation of the concave and support, and annular seals interposed between said ring nut and both said concave and its support.

6. In a gyratory crusher having a head and a concave cooperating to form a crushing chamber and wherein the head and concave are relatively adjustable to vary the crusher discharge opening, a frame, an annular concave support resting on said frame and having internal screw threads coacting with external threads on the concave, a ring nut having annular inner and outer walls and being rotatable with said concave relative to said support and also having external threads coacting with said internal support threads, a series of clamping bolts coacting with said ring nut and concave and being operable to clamp said external concave threads against said internal support threads so as to positively prevent relative rotation ofthe concave and support, and annular seals interposed between walls and said concave and its support.

7. In a gyratory crusher having a head and a concave cooperating to form a crushing chamber and wherein the head and concave are relatively adjustable to vary the crusher discharge opening, a frame, an annular concave support resting on said frame and having screw threads coacting with threads on the concave, a unitary ring nut rotatable lwith said concave relative to said support and also having threads coacting with said support threads, an `annular series of clamping elements coacting with said ring nut and concave and being operable to draw said concave threads out of binding engagement with said support threads so as to permit free rotation of the concave relative to the support, and sealing rings interposed between said ring nut and both said concave and support.

8. In a gyratory crusher having a head and a concave cooperating to form a crushing chamber and wherein the head and concave are relatively adjustable to vary the crusher discharge opening, a frame, an annular concave support resting on said frame and having screw threads coacting With threads on the concave, a unitary ring nut rotatable with said concave relative to said support and having depending flanges located in proximity to surfaces of the concave and support and also being provided with threads between said anges coacting with said support threads, a sealing ring interposed between each of said anges and the adjacent concave and support surfaces, and means coacting with said ring nut and concave between said sealing rings and being operable to clamp said concave threads into engagement with said support threads.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

